Madras High Court on Rescue Operations: The Madras High Court has raised questions about the use of helicopters to rescue people who get caught in strong sea waves and drown. The court has asked the central and Tamil Nadu governments why helicopters aren’t being used to save people during such emergencies, especially along Chennai’s beaches and other coastal areas.
The issue came up during a hearing of a habeas corpus petition filed by K. Gopal, a resident of Madhavaram in Chennai. He approached the court after his 17-year-old son went missing while swimming at Marina Beach on July 5, 2026.
The boy had visited the beach with two friends when strong waves pulled all three into the sea. His two friends were rescued but his son remained missing. Gopal alleged that the authorities didn’t take proper action to find his son and asked the court to direct them to take necessary steps.
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A division bench of Justices A.D. Jagadish Chandira and B. Karthikeyan heard the petition and asked the Greater Chennai Police to explain how search and rescue operations are carried out and which agencies are responsible for them.
In its report, the police said that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was already in place. It also explained that the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), which works under the National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority, handles rescue operations at sea.
However, the judges were not satisfied with the information provided. They said the report didn’t explain how the different central and state agencies work together during emergencies.
The court also referred to the National Maritime Search and Rescue Plan released in 2022. The judges observed that “had the central and state agencies made a concerted effort, many lives could have been saved.”
The judges also wanted to know why helicopters aren’t being used to rescue people trapped in the sea. Their question covered Marina Beach and other coastal areas in Chennai and Chengalpattu districts, along with beaches in other parts of Tamil Nadu.
During the hearing, the court was informed that 50 police personnel are deployed at Marina Beach every day. The Chennai division also has seven jet skis, an all-terrain vehicle and two mini tractors for safety and rescue work. Two 12-ton boats from the Coastal Security Group patrol the coast between Pazhaverkadu and Neelankarai.
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The court also raised concerns about CCTV cameras. Out of 468 surveillance cameras installed by the Greater Chennai Corporation, 73 were found to be non-functional.
The court has now asked the concerned authorities to provide details of the rescue procedures prepared by the National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority. They must also explain what steps have been taken to save people who enter the sea and get caught in dangerous situations.
The judges have included the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre as a party in the case and directed the Additional Solicitor General to collect the required information.
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